Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra apologised to law students amid the controversy surrounding the NALSAR University of Law in Hyderabad, days after the BCI faced criticism over its action against the university’s 2026 graduating batch.
“If anything connected with the present controversy, any of my words, or letter, has hurt the feelings of our law students, I sincerely regret and apologise for the same,” Mishra said in a letter issued on Independence Day.
“There should be no hesitation in saying so. An expression of regret is not a matter of prestige or ego. It is simply an acknowledgement that the feelings and concerns of our students matter,” he added, without mention of any college or university.
Mishra’s apology comes
amid criticism from students at NALSAR University of Law and the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, over the BCI’s decision to halt the enrolment of NALSAR’s entire 2026 graduating batch.
The action followed objections from a section of NALSAR students to the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in the university’s convocation.
Although the BCI later withdrew its directive following widespread backlash, questions continued to be raised over whether the council had exceeded its statutory authority in taking action against an entire graduating batch.
Mishra also faced criticism over the wording used in the BCI’s communication, particularly his description of the student campaign as “nasty politics”. NALSAR students and alumni, along with students and alumni of NLSIU, subsequently called for an unconditional apology from the BCI chairperson.
The controversy also extended to NLSIU, where students objected to Mishra’s participation in their convocation ceremony.
